In the past, Chaudhari used to pass the nights either in a school compound or in neighbor´s home. Every rainy season, Chaudhari said, the freed kamaiya settlement in Shivanagar of Bardiya used to get inundated. But, it seems, they may not have to go through similar fate anymore, he said.
Kamaiyas, a form of bonded laborers, were freed nine years ago by the government and now they are being provided with houses as well. Balkrishni Chaudhari, a resident of Neulapur, is happy enough to have a well-built house that can give him protection from rain and floods, sun and winds. Working as bonded laborers for so many generations, he said, owning a home was beyond his expectation. The former Kamaiyas feel safe now as World Food Program, BASE, ADRA and other organizations have taken initiatives to build houses for them.
According to information provided, places like Neulapur, Baganaaha, Dumreni, Thakur of Bardiya have houses built for 163 families, out of which 62 have two-room well-built houses and 101 have tw0-room mud houses built. Rs 35,000 was supported by the government to build well-constructed houses. Likewise, Rs 8,000 was invested by the organizations to build mud houses and the respective families were responsible to gather necerssary timber needed for the construction.
Though the government had announced to provide timber for the houses and money for farming and building houses, nothing has been done so far and thus, many freed kamaiyas are still suffering. There are 7,000 freed kamaiyas in Bardiya alone.
Shuklal Chaudhari of Neulapur complained that he got only two katthas of land but the ownership certificate handed to him states that he has four katthas. He mulled going abroad for job but could not due to financial problems.
Besides, the freed kamaiyas said the land provided to them lies in inferior areas which either get inundated in rainy season or is not cultivable.
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